Issue - items at meetings - Grant Policy Report

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

This report outlines the proposed review of the Community Grants policy and criteria. It outlines a timetable regarding further consultation, with Councillors sitting on each of the five Area Committees; Overview and Scrutiny, Cabinet and Full Council with the view that any changes and updates will be in place for the new policy to commence at the start of the forthcoming financial year 2020/21.

RESOLVED: That the proposed review of the Community Grants Policy and criteria be noted

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That the criteria and outline consultation process be approved, subject to the following comments:

· That the ability for Parish Councils t apply for grant funding would increase the number of applicants, whilst the budget remained static;

· That additional pressure would be put on those committees with Parished areas;

· That the District Wide Budget of £10,000 be supported;

· That in allocation of grant funding, due cognisance be made that Hitchin and Letchworth Committees were not Parished;

· That the Policy, in respect of Parish Council eligibility to apply for grant funding, be reviewed in 2 years.

REASON FOR DECISION: The awarding of grant funding awards to organisations, charities and voluntary groups, and the use of grant budgets devolved to Area Committees allows the Authority to further its aims and overarching Priorities of the Council and District.

Audio recording – 35 minutes 31 seconds

The Community Engagement Team Leader presented the report entitled Community Grants Policy Review and drew attention to the following:

• The report outlined the proposed changes to the grants policy;

• The process had been simplified;

• The policy was last reviewed in 2016;

• Paragraph 8.2.1 outlined changes to the eligibility criteria;

• Parish and Town Councils and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) were now eligible to apply for grants but only if ie provided additionality;

• The 2016 Policy stated that applicants were ineligible for funding if they had other funding from NHDC within 2 years. This would no longer apply under the new policy;

• These changes would encourage a variety of organisations to apply;

• The new criteria was similar to that of other local authorities and;

• Cabinet had approved two proposals relating to community grants which included the creation of a one-off District-wide budget of £10,000 in 2020/21.

The following Members asked questions and took part I the debate:

• Councillor Michael Muir;

• Councillor Tom Tyson;

• Councillor Michael Weeks;

• Councillor Jim McNally;

• Councillor Steve Jarvis.

In response to questions the Community Engagement Team Leader advised:

• That schools could apply for funding but only for activities that provided additionality;

• That each application would be considered by Members on its merit.

Members were concerned that:

· The eligibility criteria and therefore the number of applications would expand but the amount of money would remain static;

· That Parish Councils could raise money via a precept whereas the District Council had limited funds available;

· That in allocation of grant funding Committees should give due cognisance to Parished/Unparished areas.